1852.] BRIDGING GAPS. 119 



We were fortunate in reaching this island : the sea 

 was getting troublesome, the boat refused to steer by the 

 oar, and she was fast filling; one dash of spray, and our 

 castles would be demolished ; any impudent wave might 

 have given us a wetting which would have rendered that 

 night comfortless. Every such incident as that before 

 my eyes forcibly brings to my mind the utter helpless- 

 ness of any of our unfortunate missing friends. One 

 wetting, without the means which we possessed of dry- 

 ing themselves, would have destroyed their energies. 



On the morning of the 4th September, the wind hav- 

 ing lulled, we launched our boat, and pushed forward to 

 avail ourselves of the yet open water. About noon we 

 succeeded in effecting our disembarkation on the floe, 

 and, after luncheon, recommenced floe-travelling. Shortly 

 after we discovered the other party in-shore of us, under 

 the land. At one of our halting-places, Commander 

 Richards and Dr. Lyall came up with us, and having 

 spared them part of our provisions, we resumed our pro- 

 gress, fully expecting that they would overtake us at our 

 resting-place, for which object we shortened our march. 

 They evidently made heavier work, and pitched one mile 

 short of us. 



September 5. Having nothing further to detain us, we 

 made the best of our way to Village Point, expecting to 

 reach it this night ; but the half-frozen lanes, breaking 

 repeatedly, considerably retarded us ; latterly however I 

 contrived, on some occasions where it was very narrow, 

 to bridge the passage by floating pieces of ice cast into 

 the gap, and by a dexterous run over our floating bridge, 

 got safely across before it became immersed. Owing to 



